The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-24
INDIAN RIDERS.
Great Feats Of Horsemanship-
Hcenes In an Indlan Camp.

Gen. Brisbin in Omaha Republi- |
can: When we last parted company |
with the readers Of the Republican
we were in the Indian camp OF the |
Arapahoe Chief Friday. Here we
saw many curious scenes and learned
much OF Indian lite. One day Fri
day said to me he would like to show
of his young men and let me see how
we'll they could ride. At first | ex-
pected some treachery, as the whole
herd of ponies were still In the
hands Of the troops. The old chief,
however, was SO earnest, and sppar-
emily honest about it, | told the cap !
tain. who had the herd in charge, he
might let Friday have fifty ponies
for his young men. In about an
hour they drew up before the tents
in war paint and feathers, and were
as fine looking set Of young fellows
as had ever seen. Hardly one but
was six feet in hight and beautifully
proportional. They sat their horses
like centaurs and we're ease and grace
itself in the saddle. At q signal
from the chief they began their move:
ments with yell that sent the blood
curdling TO the heart, and was
enough, il heard unawares or in the
night time, to make ones hair stand
on end. In moment they had disap-
appeared over neighboring hill to
the right and l thought they had gone,
but, hearing mighty trampling OF
horses, | looked to the left and there
they came. / can compare it to
nothing but the wind, aud they
swept by so swift and compact that
they looked ike ball Of horses and
men. Splitting in two, one body
swept to the right another to the
left and again disappeared. In about
two minutes the two bodies charged
each other in solid lines, and l
waited almost breathlessly for the
shock, but as the horses heads al
most touched each other the files
skillfully opened to the right and
| left and the lines passed through the
interval without touching. Wheel
ing TO the right about they passed
back in an instant aud again dis
peared over the hills. IL was about
fifteen minutes before they came In
sight and Friday informed me they
were blowing their horses. Present
" on they came and wheeled by
fours, formed columns, broke b,
fours, and finally deployed AZ skirm
ishers. Ii was now we saw the hues
individual horsemanship. Som
would approach lying o. close TO tn,
pouy's back nothing but the horse
could be seen. Others stood up an
rode as circus men do. Some woul
hang with one foot and one hand o.
the horses and sweep by, their bodie
completely protected by the bodice
| Of the animals. Some leaped upo
the ground holding to the name Q
the horse, and after running ste
or two would swing themselves up o
the backs OF the horses as easily q
any circus man could do il. The pc
sitions they assumed aud the feats q
horsemapship which they performe
we're incredible, aud doubt II any
9 tn Dc outside OF q circus ring eve
! equaled il. They would throw oh
a jects on the ground and pick ther
up again while passing at full speed
J, the warriors hanging on the sides {
o the horses with one foot and on
hand. They drew bows and shot al
: rows from underneath the aecks an
J. oven bellies OF their hors,
= while riding at fast ga
lop. Our cavalry could M
learn to ride as we'll as these lndiai
did IL each man was trained Il
twenty years. They exchange
7, horses while riding, aud got behiu
each other. One man would fall q
!, his horse as il wounded. aud "
!, others would ride up beside hir
" and, taking him by an arm aud le
i; swing him between their horses an
|, carry him off. The exhibition,
5, drill, as Friday called il, last'
Of nearly two hours, and the men al
! horses were completely exhauste
z. had never seen such magniice
T. fea's Of horsemauship in my life, Of
ID freely said so. At this Fid
"a was much pleased, and calling up Il
!; young men repeated 10 them in
"a loud voice what / had said aud q
= ded few words OF his own, comp
3, mcntiug them. The young men We
- very proud OF the manner IN viii
a they had acquitted themselves, al
a | could imagine the feelings OF III,
a parents and swecihcarls. The pc
B; formers were much worn out, sor
NJ OF them being hardly able 10 stat
4, after their violen; exercise, aud
o, the evening | saw them lying IL d
(: lodges, where the lndian wom
7: brought them food and water, bath